On the ninth of March, Mina sat in a dressing room in Milan, waiting to go onstage. She suddenly announced: "I am definitely going to leave after Chrystal Rose Stadium in September."
There was a silence.
"Why do you want to leave?" asked Raye
"I've had enough. I just want to finish with a big finale at Chrystal Rose."
Again, there was a long uncomfortable silence. She coulden't look at the girls.
"This feels like a Take That moment," said Lita C. "Is this how it was when Robbie left? Are you doing a Robbie on us?"
"No. I'm not. I'm going to stick this out until September. I am com, tted to the band."
She didn't define a reason for leaving. It was a combination of things-a mass of emotions. She was in this for the fun of being young. She was growing up now, she wanted to go to school, and grow-up and have a family.
The next day they flew to Marseilles, in France. On the surface, things carried on as usual, but she sensed that the girls felt hurt and let down. This was understandable. They had been so close. They had shared the same dream. They had been clear about what they wanted. They had fought for it together and broken through. Now deep down they felt as if she were abandoning them.
Inside, Mina was also crying. The marriage was over and it was almost like a grieving process. But she hoped that until September and long afterward, they could all remain friends. Then she would wish them luck as they carried on without her. In many ways she felt that that there friendships might have an ever greater chance because they could go back to being mates than bussiness partners.
In the weeks that followed, quite naturally, the group began to rebalance itself. The four girls became closer and continued planning for the future. It seemed both strange and sad knowing that she woulden't be a part of these plans, but she knew this was a stage in the process of withdrawing.
Spiceworld, had entered the Billboard Top 200 album chart in the US at number eight. With SPICE still selling well, it gave them two albums in the top twenty-a rare achievement. Spiceworld, the movie, had grossed $11.3 million in the first 5 days of its US release.
As the weeks went on, Mina's clothing choices toned down, as did her make-up. She had on of the stylist change her hair. He took out the blonde streaks and lighted it to a honey color.
A few days later, Mina chatted quietly with Kenny Ho in the corner of the dressing room. She wanted to change her bustier costume, which she wore for "Wannabe".
"I suppose I could wear my 'Girl Power' dress," she said to Kenny. "But I don't know if I really want to." At the same time, she held up a long black Versace dress, with a red layer at the high neck.
She glanced up and realized that Lita B. was watching her. At that moment, Lita finally realized that Mina had grown up and to move on.
She wore that Versace dress that night.
There was a silence.
"Why do you want to leave?" asked Raye
"I've had enough. I just want to finish with a big finale at Chrystal Rose."
Again, there was a long uncomfortable silence. She coulden't look at the girls.
"This feels like a Take That moment," said Lita C. "Is this how it was when Robbie left? Are you doing a Robbie on us?"
"No. I'm not. I'm going to stick this out until September. I am com, tted to the band."
She didn't define a reason for leaving. It was a combination of things-a mass of emotions. She was in this for the fun of being young. She was growing up now, she wanted to go to school, and grow-up and have a family.
The next day they flew to Marseilles, in France. On the surface, things carried on as usual, but she sensed that the girls felt hurt and let down. This was understandable. They had been so close. They had shared the same dream. They had been clear about what they wanted. They had fought for it together and broken through. Now deep down they felt as if she were abandoning them.
Inside, Mina was also crying. The marriage was over and it was almost like a grieving process. But she hoped that until September and long afterward, they could all remain friends. Then she would wish them luck as they carried on without her. In many ways she felt that that there friendships might have an ever greater chance because they could go back to being mates than bussiness partners.
In the weeks that followed, quite naturally, the group began to rebalance itself. The four girls became closer and continued planning for the future. It seemed both strange and sad knowing that she woulden't be a part of these plans, but she knew this was a stage in the process of withdrawing.
Spiceworld, had entered the Billboard Top 200 album chart in the US at number eight. With SPICE still selling well, it gave them two albums in the top twenty-a rare achievement. Spiceworld, the movie, had grossed $11.3 million in the first 5 days of its US release.
As the weeks went on, Mina's clothing choices toned down, as did her make-up. She had on of the stylist change her hair. He took out the blonde streaks and lighted it to a honey color.
A few days later, Mina chatted quietly with Kenny Ho in the corner of the dressing room. She wanted to change her bustier costume, which she wore for "Wannabe".
"I suppose I could wear my 'Girl Power' dress," she said to Kenny. "But I don't know if I really want to." At the same time, she held up a long black Versace dress, with a red layer at the high neck.
She glanced up and realized that Lita B. was watching her. At that moment, Lita finally realized that Mina had grown up and to move on.
She wore that Versace dress that night.